Quote/s of the Day – 29 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Martha, Sister of Saint Lazarus and Saint Mary of Bethany – 2 Corinthians 10:17-18; 11:1-2 – Luke 10:38-42 –Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things and yet, only one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the best part and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41-42 –
“Martha’s life is our own world; Mary’s life, the world we are waiting for. Let us live this one in uprightness, so that we may gain the other, in its fullness. What do we already possess of that life here below? … At this moment precisely, we are leading the life to come to a certain extent – you have gathered together, away from matters of business, apart from family cares and are present here to listen. When you act like this, then you resemble Mary. ”
One Minute Reflection – 29 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Martha, Sister of Saint Lazarus and Saint Mary of Bethany – 2 Corinthians 10:17-18, 11:1-2 – Luke 10:38-42 –Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“But one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part which shall not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:42
REFLECTION – “Love everyone with a great, charitable love but have no friendship except for those who communicate with you in the things of virtue. … If this communication be in the sciences, the friendship is certainly very commendable but still more so, if it be in virtues, in prudence, discretion, fortitude and justice. Should your mutual and reciprocal communications relate to charity, devotion and Christian perfection, O God, how precious will this friendship be! It will be excellent because it comes from God; excellent because it tends to God; excellent because its very bond is God; excellent because, it shall last eternally in God. Oh, how good it is to love on earth as they love in Heaven and to learn to cherish one another in this world, as we shall do eternally in the next!
I speak not here of that simple love of charity which we must have for all but of that spiritual friendship, by which two, three or more souls communicate one to another their devotion and spiritual affections and make themselves have but one spirit. (Cf. Acts 4:32) Such happy souls may justly sing: “Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Ps 132:1). … I consider all other friendships as but so many shadows in comparison with this one …. For Christians who live in the world and desire to embrace true vrtue, it is necessary to unite themselves together by a holy and sacred friendship. By this means they encourage, assist and conduct one another to good deeds … Surely no-one can deny that our Lord loved Saint John, Lazarus, Martha and Mary .with a more sweet and most special friendship, for Scripture tells us so.” – St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Bishop of Geneva and Doctor of the Church (Introduction to the Devout Life III 19).
PRAYER – Graciously hear us, God our Saviour, that as we rejoice in the festival of blessed Martha, Thy Virgin, so may we be nourished by the food of her heavenly teaching as to be enlightened by the fervour of her dedicated holiness.Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
One Minute Reflection – 29 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Martha, Sister of Saint Lazarus and Saint Mary of Bethany – 2 Corinthians 10:17-18, 11:1-2; Luke 10:38-42 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things and yet, only one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the best part and it will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:41-42
REFLECTION – “You already know, I believe that these two women, both of whom were dear to our Lord, both worthy of His Love and both His disciples. .., These two women then, are an image of two forms of life: the life of this world and the life of the world to come; the life of work and the life of rest; the life of care and life in blessedness; life in time and life in eternity.
Two forms of life – let us reflect on them at greater length. Consider what this life here below is composed of – I am not referring to a blameworthy life .., a life of debauchery and impiousness; no, that which I am talking of, is a life of work, burdened by trials, troubles and temptations, of a life without blame, the life that was very much like that of Martha … Evil was wholly absent from this house, with Martha as with Mary and, if there had been any, our Lord’s arrival would have dispersed it. And so, two women lived there, both of whom welcomed the Lord, two admirable, upright lives, one composed of work, the other of rest … One was a life of work but free from compromise – the hazard of a life devoted to action; the other, was free from indolence – the hazard of a life of rest. There, we have two lives and the very Source of Life …
Martha’s life is our own world; Mary’s life, the world we are waiting for. Let us live this one in uprightness, so that we may gain the other, in its fullness. What do we already possess of that life here below? … At this moment precisely, we are leading the life to come to a certain extent – you have gathered together, away from matters of business, apart from family cares and are present here to listen. When you act like this, then you resemble Mary. And that is easier for you than for me, who has to speak! What I am saying, however, I am drawing from Christ and this food is Christ’s Food. For He is the Bread shared by all of us and, for this reason, I am living in communion with you.” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon 104).
PRAYER – Graciously hear us, God our Saviour, that as we rejoice in the festival of blessed Martha, Thy Virgin, so may we be nourished by the food of her heavenly teaching as to be enlightened by the fervour of her dedicated holiness.Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Quote/s of the Day – 29 July – St Martha, Sister of Saint Lazarus and Saint Mary of Bethany – 2 Corinthians 10:17-18; 11:1-2, Luke 10:38-42
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things and yet, only one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the best part and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41-42
“And as for that in the good ground they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart and bring forth fruit with patience.”
Luke 8:15
“… Scripture, as a whole, is God’s one perfect and complete instrument, giving forth, to those who wish to learn … It is one Saving Music…”
Origen (c 185-253) Priest, Theologian, Father of the Church
“Blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.”
Luke 11:28
“But if you will, you can be healed. Hand yourself over to the Doctor, and He will open the eyes and ears of your mind and heart. Who is to be the Doctor? It is God, Who heals and gives life through His Word and Wisdom. … ”
St Theophilus of Antioch (Died c 185) Bishop of Antioch, Confessor, Apologist, Father
“The more you devote yourself, to study of the Sacred utterances, the richer will be your understanding of them, just as the more the soil is tilled,, the richer is the harvest.”
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
St Isidore of Seville (c 560-636) Father & Doctor of the Church
“Cultivate your vineyard together with Jesus. To you the task of removing stones and pulling up brambles. To Jesus, that of sowing, planting, cultivating and watering. But even in your work, it is still He who acts. Because, without Christ, you could do nothing at all.”
One Minute Reflection – 5 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” – Readings: Jonah 3: 1-10; Psalm 130: 1b–4ab, 7-8; Luke 10: 38-42
“As they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary [who] sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak…” – Luke 10:38-39
REFLECTION – “Now when we have received our Lord and have Him in our body, let us not then let Him alone, setting forth about other things, looking no more unto Him but let all our business be about Him. Let us by devout prayer talk to Him, by devout meditation talk with Him. Let us say with the prophet: “I will hear what our Lord will speak within me” (Ps 85[84]: 9).
For surely, if we … attend unto Him, He will not fail with good inspirations to speak such things to us, within us, as shall serve to the great spiritual comfort and profit of our soul.
Let us then, be both Martha and also Mary. And, therefore, let us with Martha, provide that all our inward business may be pertaining to Him, in making cheer to Him and to His company for His sake, that is to say, to poor folk, of whom He takes everyone not only for His disciple but also, as for Himself. For He Himself said: “What you have done to one of the least of these my brethren, you have done to Me” (Mt 25:40) … Let us endeavour ourselves to keep Him still and let us say with His two disciples that were going to the house of Emmaus: “Stay with us, good Lord” (Lk 24:29). And then shall we be sure, that He will not go from us unless we unkindly put Him from us! – St Thomas More (1478-1535) Martyr – (Treatise To Receive the Blessed Body of our Lord.).
PRAYER – Stay With Me, O Lord by Padre Pio (1887-1968) Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life and without You I am without fervour. Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light and without You I am in darkness. Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You. Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much and always be in Your company. Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You. Stay with me, Lord, as poor as my soul is, I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of Love. Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close and life passes, death, judgement and eternity approach. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You. It is getting late and death approaches, I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile! Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers, I need You. Let me recognise You as Your disciples did, at the breaking of the bread, so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart. Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You, if not by Communion, at least by grace and love. Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more. With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity. Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 8 October – Tuesday of the Twenty Seventh week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Goaspel: Luke 10:38–42
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
Luke 10:42
“Our Lord’s words teach us that though we labour among the many distractions of this world, we should have but one goal. For we are but travellers on a journey without as yet a fixed abode, we are on our way, not yet in our native land, we are in a state of longing, not yet of enjoyment. But let us continue on our way and continue without sloth or respite, so that we may ultimately arrive at our destination.”
St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor (Sermo 103, 1-2, 6: PL 38, 613, 615)
“Action and contemplation are very close companions; they live together in one house on equal terms. Martha and Mary are sisters.”
St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Doctor of the Church
“In bustling about and busying herself, Martha risks forgetting — and this is the problem — the most important thing, which is the presence of the Guest… Most importantly He ought to be listened to. “
One Minute Reflection – 9 October – Tuesday of the Twenty Seventh week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Goaspel: Luke 10:38–42 and the Memorial of Saint Simeon
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.”…Luke 10:41-42
REFLECTION – ” Has not the desire of wealth so eaten into our hearts, that we think poverty the worst of ills, that we think the security of property the first of blessings, that we measure all things by mammon, that we not only labour for it ourselves but so involve in our own evil earnestness all around us, that they cannot keep from the pursuit of it though they would? Does not the frame-work of society move forward on such a plan as to enlist into the service of the world all its members, almost whether they will or no? Would not a man be thought unaspiring and unproductive, who cared not to push forward in pursuit of that which Scripture calls “the root of all evil,” the love of which it calls “covetousness which is idolatry,” and the possession of which it solemnly declares all but excludes a man from the kingdom of Heaven? Alas! can this be denied?
And, therefore, of course, the entire system of tranquil devotion, holy meditation, freedom from worldly cares, which our Saviour praises in the case of Mary, is cast aside, misunderstood, or rather missed altogether, as much as the glorious sunshine by a blind man, slandered and ridiculed as something contemptible and vain. Surely, no-one, who is candid, can doubt, that, were Mary now living, did she choose on principle that state of life in which Christ found her, were she content to remain at Jesus’ feet hearing His word and disengaged from this troublesome world, she would be blamed and pitied. Careless men would gaze strangely and wise men compassionately, on such an one, as wasting her life and choosing a melancholy, cheerless portion. Long ago was this the case. Even in holy Martha, zealous as she was and true-hearted, even in her instance, we are reminded of the impatience and disdain with which those who are far different from her, the children of this world, regard such as dedicate themselves to God. Long ago, even in her, we seem to witness, as in type, the rash, unchristian way in which this age disparages devotional services.”…Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
PRAYER – Lord God and Father, who entrusted the earth to men and each to the other, as one family of man, give us the grace this day, to see Your Face in our neighbour and to seek all who need our help. Grant us the grace to work faithfully for Your glory and for our neighbour’s good and never cease to praise Your glory and beg the grace of Your love and mercy. May the prayers of St Simeon and may Mary our Holy Mother, keep us ever in her guiding care. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen.
One Minute Reflection – 21 July – Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Luke 10:38–42
“..One thing is needful.” … Luke 10:42
REFLECTION – “We must become aware that God dwells within us and do everything with Him, then we are never commonplace, even when performing the most ordinary tasks, for we do not live in these things, we go beyond them! A supernatural soul never deals with secondary causes but with God alone. Oh! How it’s life is simplified, how it resembles the life of the blessed, how it is freed from self and from all things! Everything for it is reduced to unity, to that “one thing necessary”, of which the Master spoke to Mary. Then the soul is truly great, truly free, for it has “enclosed its will in God’s.” … St Elizabeth of the Trinity OCD (1880-1906) – The Greatness of our Vocation no. 8 (The Complete Works, vol. 1
PRAYER – O my God teach my heart where and how to seek You, where and how to find You…You are my God and You are my All and I have never seen You.
You have made me and remade me, You have bestowed on me all the good things I possess, Still I do not know You…
I have not yet done that for which I was made….
Teach me to seek You…I cannot seek You unless You teach me
or find You unless You show Yourself to me.
Let me seek You in my desire, let me desire You in my seeking.
Let me find You by loving You, let me love You when I find You.
Amen By St Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) Doctor of the Church
AnaStpaul 
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